Chile’s Otherworldly Atacama

One of the world’s great deserts — and considered the driest place on planet Earth — the Atacama dominates the northern end of Chile. But it’s no ordinary desert: snowcapped volcanoes, endless beaches, flamingo-filled lakes, and old Spanish colonial towns are also part of the Atacama mix.

Chile Concept is poised to create your perfect Atacama adventure, a journey that includes natural landmarks like the Tatio Geysers, Valley of the Moon, the massive La Portada search near Antofagasta, and multicolored altiplano lagoons that seem like somewhere on another planet rather than part of this world.

While Mother Nature has certainly helped shape the Atacama, mankind has also left its mark on the desert through Hand of the Desert statue in the middle of nowhere, mining ghost towns, pre-Inca ruins, some of the world’s most advanced astronomical observatories, and the town of San Pedro de Atacama with its charming cafes and boutique hotels.